Almost every policeman posted here agrees that the government should ensure a fixed tenure of service in such “hyper sensitive” Naxalite areas.

Says Head Constable Umendra Singh Thakur: “I have served almost my entire service in Naxal-affected police stations. I have spent over two and a half years at Koylibeda while before this I was posted at Bande (three and a half years), Bhanupratappur (one year) and Aamabeda (three and a half years). The government should definitely think about its transfer and posting policy and try to provide respite to personnel who are posted in such areas.”

As if tackling the Naxalites wasn’t enough, the Koylibeda police station have to ensure the safety of a Doordarshan transmitter installed inside the station premises is also their responsibility.

AT GROUND ZERO

• Chhattisgarh has the worst record in tackling Naxalites. Of the 20 police districts in the state, 16 are officially called Naxalite affected.

700 people including about 250 security personnel, have been killed in Naxal-related violence during the last 2 yrs.

368 deaths in 576 Naxal-related incidents in 2007 alone. One of the biggest ever Maoist attacks took place last year on March 15 on the Rani Bodli outpost in Bijapur in which 55 security personnel were killed.

• The latest attack was on February 18 in which five CRPF personnel were killed in Bijapur.

... contd.